Apparatus for casting metals.



No. 818,076. I ATENTED APR. 1'7, 1906.

0. A; T. J. CLARK. APPARATUS FOR CASTING METALS.

APPLICATION TILED DEG.12. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W/TNESSES:

4 /4 m MA BYfiiATTOHA/Ey I No. 818,076. PATENTED APR. 17, 1906. A. G. & T. J. CLARK.

APPARATUS FOR CASTING METALS.

APPLICATION I'ILEIJ DEO.12, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

'INVENTORJ 0 Mwkf f WITNESSES:

A TTOHNEY UNIJTEI) S li'iliTES PATENT OFFiGlil.

ADOLPH C. CLARK AN! 'lll( )M.1-\S J. CLARK, OF PERTH AMBOY, NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR GASTlNG METALS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 17, 1908.

Application filed December 12, 1905. Serial No. 291,409.

To (Ll/- 1121mm 1% may concern:

Be it known that we, ADOLPH C. CLARK and THOMAS J. CLARK, residing at Perth Amboy, in the county of Middlesex and State of New Jersey, have jointly invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Casting Metal and Especially Copper in Molds, of which the i'ollowil'ig is a specification.

It consists in the arrangement and combination of parts as set forth in the below specification and specifically pointed out in the claims at the end hereof.

()ne of the objects of our invention is to produce a simple, quickly-operated, efficient, and durable apparatus.

Another object is to produce an apparatus I by which the molten metal may be poured longitudinally of the molds, and thereby avoid the production of fins on the casting, which have heretofore had to be removed at considerable expense.

Another object is to produce an apparatus in which the molds may be quickly and easily removed and different molds may be inserted by the use of adjustable means in which the mold is supported.

Other objects will appear from the hereinafter description.

Referring now to the drawings, in which the same reference character indicates the same part in the different views, Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a section on line 2 of Fig. 1, showing the ladle and its tilting a paratus in side elevation. Fig. 3 is a detail view of one form of device for dumping the mold. Fig. 4 is a detail view showing one form of the device for righting the mold. Fig. 5 is a detail View showing another and our referred device for dumping the mold. Fig. 6 shows the correspond-- ing device for righting the mold. Fig. 7 is a section on line 7-of Fi s. 1 and 2, on an enlarged scale, showing t e adjustable supp ort inwhich is pivoted one end of the mold. ig 8 is a plan view of the device, on an enlarged scale, to be secured to one end of the mold for turning and ri hting the same. Fig. 9 is a side view of sai device. Fig. 10 is a lan view of the mold on a smaller scale t an Figs. 7, 8, and 9. Fig. 11 is a cross-section of the mold on line 11 of Fig. 10.

On the drawings, the part marked 1 represents the foundation or base of the apparatus,

two in the drawings, and

lower plate.

plate 2* of the carrier 2.

which consists of a circular plate having groove 1 in the upper surface thereof.

2 is a circular carrier which consists of a bottom plate 2*, which is circular in sha c and is located directly over the base 1, am a plate 2', projecting upwardly from the mid dle of the circular bottom plate 2*, dividing this bottom plate into an inner and an outer flange '2" 2. The under side of the bottom plate 2 has a groove 2, corresponding with and directly over the groove 1*.

3 represents antifriction balls in the grooves, which support and on which the carrier 2 is moved.

The carrier may be operated by any suitable means to cause the arms to move the molds underneath the ladle, which is provided with separate spouts to cause the stream of molten metal to be poured in the proper manner, all of which will be hereinafter described. In the construction illustrated we have shown our preferred apparatus for moving the carrier, and it is as follows: On the inner rojecting flange 2 we form a rack 2". Mes 'ng with this rack is a beveled inion 4, secured on the end of a shaft 5, w llOh is driven, preferably, by an elec trio motor 6. The motor is supported on a suitable base 7, and the shaft 5 is supported and journaled in a suitable bearing 8. suspended radially from the carrier are a numer of arms 9, on which are secured thcross arms or beams in which the molds are pivoted. There may be any suitable number of these radial arms. We have shown only as all are exactly alike a description of one will be sufficient for all. This arm consists of an upper plate 9 and a lower plate 9", the lower plate being horizontal and the upper plate slo ing downwardly toward its outer end which is turned down and connected to the outer end of the These plates are connected together at or near their inner ends by a substantially vertical plate 9. The two plates are joined together about their longitudinal center b a vertical plate or web 9". The arm as t us formed in cross-section ap ears as an I-beam, as shownin Fig. 7 o the drawings. The inner end of the upper late is turned down and over to form a hoo 9 which fits over the upper ed e of the vertical he'inner end of the lower plate 9? is flared in two directions each lug being1 to form a shoe 9, which rests-against the outer edge of the outwardly-proj ecting flange 2 of the carrier. Secured to the outer end. of this arm is a cross plateor beam 10, having circular openings 10 near each end thereof, in which 1s fitted one of the journals of the molds, to be hereinafter described. 11 is another cross-beam, provided with circular 0 enings 11 at each end thereof into which t e inner and circular trunnions of the molds are journaled. This cross-beam is adjustable longitudinally of the radial arm, so as to per mit the molds to be readily removed and changed and molds of different lengths to be used when desired. This cross-beamlias a groove 11 on the u per edge thereof, into which fits the lower p ate 9 of the radial arm 9.. This cross-beam has lugs formed thereon, provided with an o ening theiein throu which extend the b0 ts 12. The upper en 12 of each of these bolts is overturned and rests upon the upper surface ,of the lower plate 9* and serves to support and hold the cross-beam 11' onto the radial arm. By loosening the nuts 13 on the lower ends ofthese bolts the cross-beam may be moved lon 'tudinally of the supporting-arm to permit t e molds to be changed and molds of different lengths to be used. By tightening these nuts the cross-beam may be clamped and secured at any position on the ra ial arm. The cross-beams, as described, are adapted to support two molds; but they mag be constructed to support one or more. s all the molds are alike and are operated in the same manner, a description of one will be sufiicient. The mold is represented on the drawings by the reference-numeral 14. The mold is provided with longitudinal grooves 14, into which the molten metal is poured and the casting formed.

14 and 14? are trunnions secured to the end of the mold. These trunnions are placed below the'center of gravity and near the bottom of the mold, so that the moldwill swing inverted unless some means ,are provided to kee it upright, and this means will be described hereinafter. The trunnion 14 is circular in cross-section and fits into one of the circular openings 11 in the cross-beam 11. The other trunmon 14 is square in cross-section and is supported in the hub of the moldtilting arms.

15 is that part of the mold-tilting device which is secured to one end of the mold.

This device consists of a hub 15, having a square opening 15', into which fits the square trunnion 14 of the mold. This hub fits into and rotates freely in the circular opening 10 of the cross-beam 10.

15, 15, and 15 are arms the hub 15.

- 15, 15 and 15, respectively, proi pcting outw om. The; molds are kept in then upright position durwardly and at right angles there radiating from Each of these arms has a finger.

macro ing a part oftheir travel by the fingers 15 and 15 resting on a track 16, which is concentric to the carrier and directly under the path of travel ofthe said fingers. At one end of this track and in the continuation of the circularpath thereof, but above its horizontal plane, are plates 17 and 18, which are inclined 1n the manner shown in Fi 3. Against these inclined plates move the fingers 15, 15 and 15 to dump the mold as the fingers leave this end of the circular track. At the other end of the track in the circular path thereof, but below its horizontal plane, are two more plates 19 and 20, which are inclined, as shown m Fig. 4, to right the mold by the fingers 15, 15 and 15 moving thereon in the manner to be set forth in describing the operation. of the apparatus.

lnFlgs. 5 and 6 we have illustrated our preferred evices for 006 erating with the fingers to dump-and rig t the molds. These two devices are marked 21 and 22 for convenience in describing the operation of the apparatus; but they are both constructed substantially alike, the one used for tilting the molds being secured near the dumpin end of the track 16 and above the horizonta plane thereof, with its two arms 21 and '21" projecting downwardly and the other secured near the righting end of the track, but below the horizontal plane thereof, with its two arms 22 and 22 pro'ecting upwardly. Each of these arms has a rofler 21, 21, 22 and 22, respectively, secured to the end thereof and in the path of travelof the fingers 15, 15 and 15*, with which the said fin ers cooperate to dump and right the mo ds. If desired, in this construction the two devices 21 and 22 may be so placed in relation to the arms 15, 15, and 15 that the arms themselves will come in contact with the rollers to dump and right the molds, or in either construction we may dispense with the fingers and so locate the track 16, the inclines 17, 18, 19, and 20, or the devices 21 and 22 that the arms themselves will coact with these parts to hold the mold in the upright position to dump and also to right the mold during the travel thereof.

23 is a ladle into which the molten metal is poured from the furnace and from which it is poured into the molds. This ladle is pivotally suspended by the rods 24, the up or ends of the rods .bein supported in a wel -known manner. (Not s own in the drawings.) The mouth of the ladle is divided into spouts 25, directly over the grooves in the molds when the molds rest under the ladle, so that the metal will be poured into each groove of the ladle when the moldis tilted.

In the construction shown by the drawings, in which two molds havin two castinggrooves are carried by the ra ial arms, the mouth is divided into four spouts by the upwardlyprojecting plates 26 and a fillingouter end of the ladle.

- the o posig be righted.

piece 27. It is apparent, however, thatif a mold with only two grooves be used theladle will be constructed so as to have only two s outs. Any means may be used for tilting tlie ladle; but we prefer to use a hydraulicoperated engine 28. To the piston-rod 29 of this engine 1s connected the links 30, which are connected to the hooks 31, secured to the 32 is a pipe leading to this engine. The otherend of the pipe has secured thereto a T connection 33, in which operates a three-way valve 34. Connected to this valve are inlet and exit pipes and 36. The valve is controlled by a lever 37 By turning the three-way valvein one direction the piston-rod 29 is drawn up and tilts the ladle topour the molten metal into the mold, and by turning the three-way valve in directnon the piston-rod is down-to permit the ladle to 38 is a-platform or other suitable means on which the operator stands to control the three-way valve. This stand is placed adj acent to the track 16 and at a convenient distance for the operator to observe the operation of pouring the metal. Secured on this stand'is a switchboard 39, by which the operator also controls the current by which the motor 6 is operated to turn the carrier. 7

40, 41,.and 42 'are the conducting-wires leading from the motor to the terminals 43, 44, and 45, respectively.

The operation of the device is as follows: Suppose the parts to be in'the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings-that is, with two of the molds righted and directly under the spout of the ladle and with the fingers 15 and 15 on the track 16 and with the opposite molds inverted, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. Assuming that the ladle has been filled with molten metal which has been supplied thereto from a furnace (not shown) through the spout 46, the operator on the platform 38 turns the valve 34 to cause the engine 28 to tilt the ladle, so that the the track without any steadying means.

metal will flow through the spouts 25 into the grooves or channels 14 in the molds. When the molds are filled, the operator then turns the valve 34 to right the ladle. The operator next turns the electric switch 39 to the proper terminal to put the motor 6 in operation to cause the carrier to turn on its bearingsi'n the direction indicated by the arrow in'Fig. 1, causing the molds to travel sidewise in a circle. During the travel of the filled molds they are kept upright by the fingers15 and 15 resting on the track 16. When these molds get beyond the extreme right-hand end of the track, which is termed the dumping end, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the finger 15 strikes against the under surface of the inclined plate 17, as shown in the first position to the right of Fig. 3. As the carrier continues to move, carrymold to turn to the right, and the finger 15 y will then strike against the under side of the inclined plate 18, near its upper end, and the finger 15 will be at the lower end of the plate 17 all as shown by dotted lines in the second position of Fig. 3. A further travel of the carrier will cause the-finger 15 to move down the inclined plate 18 and completely invert -the mold, as shown in the dotted position on the left of Fig. 3. When the mold is in this position, the castings will fall thcrefrom.- ...T-he"molds may then be subjected to a spray of water from pipes. (Not shown.) After this the molds are coated with bone-ash by means of an air-brush. As the carrier continues to turn to the right the molds, which have been inverted, will be righted in the following manner by the inclined plates at the opposite end of the track. When the inverted mold comes opposite the inclined plate 19, the finger 15 comes in contact with the upper surface of this plate, and as the carrier continues to swing the mold to the right this finger bearing upon this inclined plate will turn the mold to the left, and as the carrier continues to travel. the finger 15 comes in contact with the upper surface of the inclined plate 20, when the finger 15 is at the upper end of the inclined plate 19, as shown by the dotted lines in the second position in Fig. 4. As the carrier still continues to travel the finger 15 travels up the inclined plate 20 and turns the mold to the left until it is ri hted, as shown in the dotted position to the eft of Fig. 4. The carrier continues to travel until it brings the mold directly under the mouth of the ladle, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, when the operator stops the motor and tilts the ladle to again fill the mold, as described before.

As the trunnions are placed on the molds.

below the center of gravity thereof when inverted, as shown in the position to the left of Fig. 3, they will remain so during their travel from the dumping end to the righting end of In the construction shown in. Fig. 5 the fingers 15, 15 and 15 come in contact with the rollers 21 and 21 causing the molds to be inverted and dumped, as clearly shown in said Fig. 5. When the molds have been swung to the righting end of the track, these fingers come in contact with the rollers 22 and 22 and the mold is righted, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, and which, we believe, needs no further description, as it is apparent that the rollers take the place of the inclined plates to cooperate with the fingers to'duinp and right the molds. In this preferred form when the devices 21 and 22 are so located that the rollers 21 21 and 22 22 are in the path of the arms 15 15 15 these arms instead of thefin ers will coact with the rollers, as is apparent om the description above, to

dump andright the molds during their circuagainst the ends of the molds, causmg a 5 chilling of the copper and the roduction of a fin on the castin If'thiswas not removed, whichha I to be done at considerable expense, the copper casting could not be used for drawing into wire of high reliable electric conductivity,for the reason that the fine edges would cause faults that could only be removed by cutting out the imperfect section and splicing the wire. In our construction of apparatus in which the molds are placed lengthwise or longitudinally of the adle and in pairs substantially parallel to each other, as shown, instead of being placed in radial line from thecenter ofv the apparatus or carrier and in which the molds travel sidewise in movin from the ladle to the dum ing position t ere is no tendency of the meta to surge over the edges of the molds to cause fins, and on this account the carrier can be moved at greater rapidity, as the tendency of the splash decreases in direction proportionate to the length of the mold in the dlrection of its travel. Furthermore, by arranging the molds and ladle as We have done we are able to pour about four times the amount of metal in a given time than has heretofore been done by prior apparatus. All this reduces the cost and increases the efiiciency of the apparatus. Not only this, it will be seen that 1n our apparatus the number of working arts has been decreased and the apparatus itself can be built at less expense than rior a paratus. Furthermore, we have aced t e o erat'ors platform away and moonnecte from the carrier and m such os1t1on that he can more readily observe t e ladle and the operation of pouring the metal and can see and have full control over the operation of the carrier.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of our invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, we intend that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accom anying drawings shall be interpreted as ill ustrative and not in a limitin sense. We desire it also to be understoo that the langua e used in the following claims is intende to cover'all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, mi ht be said to fall therebetween.

aving now described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Let-. ters Patent, isv 1. Ina casting-machine, a circular carrier, means for rotatmg the same, means extending radially from and carried by the carrier to support a mold, a mold pivotally supporte by said means, fingers connected to the mold, a track formin ,part of'a circle on which the fingers rest an by which the mold is held in an u right position during part of the travel of t e earner, means adjacent to one end of the track a ainst which the fingers contact and by whic the mold is inverted, and means ad acent to the other end of the track against which the fingers contact to right the mold and place the fingers in position to rest on the track.

2. In a casting-machine, a circular carrier, meansfonrotating the same, means extending radially from and carried by the carrier tosu port a mold, a mold pivotally supporte by said means, fingers connected to the mold, a track forming part of a circle on which the fingers rest and by which the mold is held in an upright position during art of the travel of the carrier, and a plate a jacent to one end. of the track, said plate having downwardly-proj ecting arms and rollers carried by the arms a ainst which the fin ers contact and by w-hicIi the mold is inverte 3. In a casting-machine, a circular carrier,

means for rotating the same, means extend ing radially from and carried by the carrier to su port a mold, a mold pivotally supporte by said means, fingers connected to the mold, a track formin part of a circle on which the fingers rest an by which the mold is held in an u right positionduring part of the travel of t e carrier, a plate adjacent to one end of the track, said plate having downwardly-projecting arms and rollers carried by the arms against which the fingers contact and by which the mold is inverted, and another plate adjacent to the other end of the track, having arms projecting vertically and rollers carried by the arms against which the fin ers contact to right the mold and to place t e fingers in osition to rest upon the track to hold the mo d in its upright position.

4. In a castin -machine, a carrielyan arm extending radially therefrom and sup orted thereby, a beam havin an opening t erein secured to the outer en of the arm, another beam having an o enin therein secured -to the arm between t e en s thereof, bolts carried by the beam and coacting with the arm, whereby the said beam maybe adjustable IIO lengthwise of the arm and set at any redemeans for rotating the carrier, an arm extending radially from the carrier, a cross-beam secured to the end of the arm, having a circular opening thereon, another cross beam between the ends of thearm and adjustable longitudinally thereon, a mold pivoted in said cams, a hub secured to one end of the mold, arms radiating from the hub and fingers extending from the arms, means coacting with said fingers to invert the mold, a track forming art of a circle, means near one end of the trac cooperating with said fingers to invert the mold, and means adjacent to the other end of the track to right the mold, said fingers restin on the track during a part of the travel of t e carrier to hold the mold in its upright position.

6. In a casting-machine, a circular carrier, means for operating the same, an arm extending radially from and supported by the carrier, a cross-beam having an opening therein secured to one end of the arm, another crossbeam having an opening therein between the ends of the arm, means for adjustably supportlng the second cross-beam longitudinal y of the arm, a mold having trunmons support-' ed in said openings, a hub secured to one of the trunnions, arms extending radially from said hub, fingers extending outwardly from the ends of the arms, a track forming part of a circle and on which the fingers rest. to hold the mold in an upright position, a plate above the track and adjacent to one end thereof, arms extendin downwardly from said plate, rollers carried by said arms against which the fingers contact to invert the mold, another plate below the mold and adjacent to the other end thereof, said plate having arms extending upwardl and rollers carried by said arms against w 'ch the fingers contact to right the mold and place the fingers in osition to rest on the track to hold the mo din its upright position. a

7. In a casting-machine, a carrier, means for moving the same, means carried thereby to support a mold, a mold pivotally supported by said means, arms connected to the mold, fingers extending from the arms, a track on which the fingers rest and by which the mold is held in an upright position during a part of the travel thereof, a late adjacent to one end of the track, sai plate hav' downwardlypojecting arms, rollers carriiifi by the arms against which the first-mentioned arms contact and by which the mold is inverted, and another plate adjacent to the other end of the track having upwardly-projecting arms, rollers carried b these arms against which the arms secure to the mold coact to right the mold and place the fingers in position to rest upon the track and to hold the mold in an upright osition.

8. In a casting-mac e, a carrier, means for moving the same, means carried thereby for supporting a mold, a mold pivotally supported by said means, arms connected to the mold, a track on which the arms rest and by which the mold is held in an uprifght during a part of the travel thereo a late adjacent to one end of the arm, said p ate having downwardly-projecting arms, a roller carried by each of the arms against whlch the arms of the mold contact to invert the mold, and another plate adjacent to the other end of the track having verticallyrojectin arms, and rollers carried by eac of sai arms against which the arms of the mold contact to ri ht the mold and to place the arms of the mol such osition as to rest upon the track and to ho d the mold in its u right (position during the further travel of t e mol 9. In a casting-machine, a circular carrier, means for rotating the carrier, an arm extending radially from the carrier, an adjustable cross-beam secured to the same between its ends, another cross-beam secured at the outer end of the arm, a plurality of molds pivoted in said beams, a hub connected to one end of each mold, arms radiating'from the hubs and means coacting with said arms to invert the molds during the travel of the carrier.

10. In a casting-machine, a carrier, an arm extending radially therefrom and. supported thereby, a pair of longitudinal molds lvotally sup orted on each side of the sa1 arm,

said mo ds being parallel to each other, arms radiating from the outer end of the molds, a track forming part of a circle, means near one end of the track cooperating with said arms to invert the molds, and means adjacent to the other end of the track to right the molds, the said arms resting on the track during a part of the travel thereof to hold the molds 1n an u right position.

l1. n a casting-machine, a earner, an arm extending radially therefrom and supported thereby, a cross-beam having a circular opening in each end thereof, secured to the outer end of the arm, another cross-beam hav ng a circular o ening in each end thereof, secured to the sair arm between its ends, said second beam being adjustable lengthwise of the arm, a pair of molds pivoted in the o enings 1n the said cross-beams, said molds eing located one on each side of the arm and being arallel to each other, means for operating t e carrier, means for inverting the molds at a.predetermined point in their travel, and separate means for righting the molds.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands, at Perth Amboy, county of Mlddlesex, and State of New J er'sey, this 9th day of December, 1905.

ADOLPH C. CLARK. THOMAS J CLARK.

position IIO 

